Fastening tab arrangement for disposable diapers

ABSTRACT

Pressure-sensitive fastening tabs for disposable diapers in which the free end of each tab is folded back transversely on itself with the pressure sensitive adhesive surface on the inside. Disposed between the thus juxtaposed adhesive surfaces is a release sheet having multiple folds at one end adjacent the transverse fold of the tab. The release sheet permits the tab to be unfolded for use when applying the diaper, and the folds in the release sheet provide a handle for removing the release sheet completely from the tab.

Aldinger et a1.

[11] 3,81A72 [451 ay 14, 1974 FASTENING TAB ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPOSABLEDIAPERS [75] Inventors: Karl 1E. Aldinger; Karl L. Pennau;

Richard 111. Frick, all of Neenah, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation,

Neenah, Wis.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 296,250

[52] US. Cl. 128/287 [51] Int. Cl A411) 13/02 [58] Field of Search128/284-287 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,714,8898/1955 Chambers 128/284 3.610.244 10/1971 Jones 128/287 Endres 128/2871126.151 Duncan et a1. a. 128/284 Primary Examiner-Charles F. RosenbaumAttorney, Agent, or F irm-Daniel J. Hanlon, .1r.; William D. Herrick;Raymond J. Miller [57] ABSTRACT in the release sheet provide a handlefor removing the release sheet completely from the tab.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FASTENING TAB ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPOSABLEDHAPIERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Disposable diapers which comprisean absorbent pad with a fluid-previous cover and a fluid-imperviousbacking of plastic film are now commonly provided withpressure-sensitive tape in the form of tabs for fastening the edges ofthe diaper together when the diaper is put on the child. All of thesetabs require a release sheet to protect the pressure-sensitive adhesiveand to keep the tabs from inadvertently adhering to adjacent parts ofthe diaper before use.

In the prior art some of these tabs extend for at least half theirlength beyond the edge of the diaper and are free to flap around,whereby they may get caught during packaging or might be easily torn.

The present invention is an improvement over this type of tabarrangement, providing a firmer tab-todiaper attachment while utilizingsmaller amounts of release paper and thus providing a more economicalstructure as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this invention, one end of thepressure-sensitive tape forming a fastening tab for disposablediapers isattached to the film backing sheet of the diaper adjacent the diaperedge and near one end of the diaper. The free end of the tab whichextends beyond the diaper edge is folded back on itself over the diapercover with the pressure-sensitive surface of the tab disposed on theinside. A release sheet is interposed between the folded tab to keep thepressure-sensitive surfaces out of contact. The end of the release sheetadjacent the tab fold is provided with multiple folds which act as ahandle to aid in completely stripping the release sheet from the tabafter it is unfolded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the back side of a diaper employing thefastening tab of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of the front side of one cornerof the diaper showing a fastening tab of this invention.

' FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2..

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the tab of FIG. 3 after it has beenunfolded.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are side views of other embodiments of folds for therelease sheet used in this invention. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the plan view of FIG. 1there is shown the back side ofa dispoable diaper l0 having'a plasticfilm back-' ing 12 and two fastening tabs 14. FIG. 2 is an enlarged planview of one corner of the face or front side of the diaper showing thefluid permeable cover sheet 16, fastening tab 14, and a release sheet18.

In FIG. 3, which is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2,details of the diaper and tab structure are illustrated in exaggerateddetail. As can be seen here, the diaper is comprised of an absorbent padenclosed in a plastic film backing sheet 12 and a fluidpermeable coversheet 16. This is one of a number of conventional disposable diaperstructures and no novelty is ascribed to it. Other disposable diaperstructures are equally adaptable for use with the improved fastening tabarrangement of this invention.

In the improved tab arrangement, tab 141 comprises a substrate 22, whichmay be a saturated paper base sheet or plastic, and a pressure-sensitiveadhesive surface 24. One end 26 of tab 14 is attached to the surface ofthe diaper backing sheet 12 by pressure-sensitive adhesive 24. The freeend 28 of tab 14 is folded back on itself over the surface of coversheet 16 at fold 23. Interposed between the surfaces ofpressure-sensitive adhesive 24 is release sheet 18 having a multiplicityof folds 19 adjacent fold 23. Release sheets per se are well known andmay comprise silicon-coated paper, releasetreated film or the like.Multifold 19, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 comprises a double convolution.Thus when the user grasps the free end 28 of the tab 14 or release sheet18, and opens it out as shown in FIG. 4, fold 19 will stand up from thepressure-sensitive surface and provide a convenient handle which theuser may grasp to easily strip the release sheet from the adhesivesurface in preparation for applying the fastening tab to the proper areaof the opposite end of the diaper when it is wrapped around the child.

As shown, release sheet 18 extends slightly past the free end 28 of thetape primarily to identify its presence there. However, the releasesheet may also end flush with end 28 of the tab 14 and still perform itsfunction without difficulty. In fact this might be preferred because ofthe economics involved.

In FIG. 5, the folded end 19a of release strip 18a is shown as a Z-fold.

In FIG. 6, the folded end 19b of release strip 18b is shown as amultiple bleat or accordion fold.

Various other folds which will automatically project outward from theadhesive surface after the tab is unfolded can readily be devised.

It will also be noted that in the arrangement illustrated in thedrawings, the pressure-sensitive adhesive 24 is adhered to both sides ofthe release sheet 18 near the edge of the diaper, thus providing a muchstronger resistance to edge tear during packaging and handling.

What is claimed is:

1. In a disposable diaper construction in which diaper mounting tabshaving an adhesive coating on one side are attached to corners of thediaper with one end portion of the tab attached to the diaper and theopposite free end portion extending beyond the diaper edge, theimprovement wherein said free end portion is transversely folded onitself with the adhesive coated side innermost, said folded tab beingprovided with a release sheet interposed between the folded portions ofsaid tab and extending from said transverse fold to at least the freeend of said tab to maintain the adhesive coating on the folded portionsof said tab out of contact, said release sheet being flat and unfoldedexcept for short multiple transverse folds at one end, said multiplefolded end being disposed adjacent said transverse tab fold and each ofthe adhesive coated sides of said folded free end portion of said tabbeing releasably adhered to the respective side of the unfolded area ofsaid release strip which is interposed therebetween.

2. The improvement in diaper mounting tabs of claim 1 wherein the end ofsaid release sheet disposed oppo- 1 wherein the multiple fold of saidrelease strip is a Z- fold.

5. The improvement in diaper mounting tabs of claim 1 wherein themultiple fold of said release strip is a multiple accordion pleat.

1. In a disposable diaper construction in which diaper mounting tabshaving an adhesive coating on one side are attached to corners of thediaper with one end portion of the tab attached to the diaper and theopposite free end portion extending beyond the diaper edge, theimprovement wherein said free end portion is transversely folded onitself with the adhesive coated side innermost, said folded tab beingprovided with a release sheet interposed between the folded portions ofsaid tab and extending from said transverse fold to at least the freeend of said tab to maintain the adhesive coating on the folded portionsof said tab out of contact, said release sheet being flat and unfoldedexcept for short multiple transverse folds at one end, said multiplefolded end being disposed adjacent said transverse tab fold and each ofthe adhesive coated sides of said folded free end portion of said tabbeing releasably adhered to the respective side of the unfolded area ofsaid release strip which is interposed therebetween.
 2. The improvementin diaper mounting tabs of claim 1 wherein the end of said release sheetdisposed opposite from said transverse fold extends beyond the free endof said tab.
 3. The improvement in diaper mounting tabs of claim 2wherein the multiple fold of said release strip is a convolute fold. 4.The improvement in diaper mounting tabs of claim 1 wherein the multiplefold of said release strip is a Z-fold.
 5. The improvement in diapermounting tabs of claim 1 wherein the multiple fold of said release stripis a multiple accordion pleat.